Syria: Fragile ceasefire in Sweida ‘largely holding’ amid volatility

Syria: Fragile ceasefire in Sweida ‘largely holding’ amid volatility

Declared on July 19, the ceasefire followed a harrowing wave of sectarian clashes, Israeli airstrikes and grave human rights violations. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen told ambassadors in the Security Council on Monday that the recent escalation had “rocked” the country’s already precarious transition and highlighted the need for “major course corrections” on […]

Largely eradicated diseases at risk of returning due to budget cuts

Largely eradicated diseases at risk of returning due to budget cuts

Cuts to global health funding are leading to a rise in outbreaks of diseases that vaccines had nearly wiped out, the UN health agency, WHO, is warning on Thursday. In Africa’s “meningitis belt”, which spans parts of sub-Saharan Africa, vaccination campaigns had successfully eliminated meningitis A. Similarly, improved routine immunization and emergency vaccine stockpiles drastically […]